Days of Fire, Growing Damage; Baldy Beacon Under Threat

A growing fire in one of Belize’s most scenic landscapes is now drawing serious attention. Beyond the heated exchanges between the Ministry of Defense and activist Elvin Penner lies the Bald Hills at Baldy Beacon, an iconic stretch of the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve now scarred by flames. Residents say the fire has been burning unchecked since Tuesday, raising concerns about the extent of the damage. Today, News Five’s Shane Williams made his way into the reserve to see it firsthand and assess the impact.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

He’s a controversial figure, one many didn’t expect to see step back into the spotlight. But Elvin Penner says he’s stepping in where others won’t. The self-described disgraced former minister is now drawing attention for what he calls a reckless situation, one that has already destroyed hundreds of acres of vegetation. Whether welcomed or not, Penner has once again become a lightning rod, this time putting environmental damage front and center.

 

Francis Usher, CEO Ministry of Defense

“Because of some of the explosion… stakeholders in the area to contain the fire.”

 

The Ministry of Defense says the area is a military zone and security protocols are put in place to ensure the area is restricted and no danger to civilians.

 

Francis Usher

“Whenever we are operating in the area… demarcate all along the way.”

 

But we were able to drive straight up to just a couple hundred yards away from the detonation site with no barrier of any kind to stop us, unless if you count this tree trunk on the side of the road. And no warning signs to alert us, unless you count this inconspicuous red rag on this tree.

 

 

 

 

Elvin Penner, Property Owner

“CEO Usher went on record to say anytime they do any kind of explosive or any kind of activity, any kind of dangerous activity where civilians should not be around, they would properly barricade the area. They would demarcate the area. They would at least have some danger signs up. They would at least have personnel on site preventing civilians from entering such a sensitive and dangerous site. And as you can see behind me, there’s nothing like that. There was nothing like that yesterday either.”

 

 

 

However, as shown on this sign here off the Caracol Road entering the Cooma Cairn private road leading to the base, the only restriction made clear here are for those in logging and military trucks.

 

 

 

 

Elvin Penner

“This was a known British joint – BDF sometimes media sometimes task in the area training was happening. There were signs, there were camps, there were barricades when activities were happening, and it was being kept safe. Then they abandoned this area, which is mostly private land. I think we’re standing on private land right now. When they came back, they started investigating, and they realized there was quite a bit of private owners here now with some activity happening here.”

 

 

And there is still evidence left from the British military’s time in this area, like this base for the Friends for Conservation and Development, who are the ones now working to preserve the forest. The key question now is what responsibility the Ministry of Defense will take for the damage.

 

Franics Usher

“We don’t want it to destroy any material or property that that people have in the area. So we have deployed significant resources to mitigate all that from happening. And yeah we do take accountability, but also there are some things that are outside of our control.”

 

 

 

Elvin Penner

“Now they have taken responsibility for what they did. This fire was started by them. Last time they didn’t claim responsibility. Now they have officially claimed responsibilities. Maybe I want to charge for some of the pine trees that I have fertilized and grown for the past 10 years on at least my 10 acres that is burnt.”

 

In case you feel far removed from this flare up, the Baldy Beacon Valley leads directly to the Macal River from multiple points, streaming into the Belize River which is the life source for more than half the country.

 

 

 

 

The latest update we have received is though still active the fire has not reached crossed the roaring creek. And cool conditions tonight should be enough to render this wild blaze contained. Shane Williams for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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